Mira, our son’s Doberman, likes to share. When Teckla and I get home from work, Mira grabs a bone or a toy and comes happily trotting up to us. We are not sure why: she doesn’t want to fetch the toy and clearly we don’t want the bone. I’m sure this is some kind of pack behavior, perhaps an acknowledgement of us as “leaders of the pack”. But she will also pick up a bone and put it on our knee while she gnaws it. Of course, the bone is covered in slobber, so this sharing makes a mess.
But here we have the secret of successful evangelism. Like Mira, we Christians have something good and want to share it. Simple joy in the toy (the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus) and love of the person should make us want to share—not the converting of heathen or cutting a notch in our Bible.
And yes some will be as puzzled by our gift as we are when Mira offers us her bone. But we must be confident that unlike Mira’s bone, the good news we offer is something everyone needs. And as in the case with Mira, many will look past our drool and see the love.
